December 22, 2010

Hot 97 Cipha Sounds Suspended Indefinitely For Haitian HIV Comments

During a segment about giving out condoms to help reduce the spread of AIDS in Haiti, Cipha “joked” that he didn’t have to worry about HIV because he didn’t “mess with Haitian women.”

DJ Cipha Sounds (Luis Diaz) of the "Cipha Sounds and Peter Rosenberg Morning Show" has been suspended from Hot 97 @hot97 (WQHT) New York indefinitely, over the on-air comments made about Haitian women.Additionally, Hot 97 revealed that Cipha Sounds will immediately undertake "sensitivity training" focused on the Haitian community and the serious nature of the HIV/AIDS problem within the community.

"Cipha made an immediate public apology and recognizes his insensitivity and the negative impact his comments have on all Haitians," said Alex Cameron, SVP/Market Manager of Emmis-New York. "The Haitian community is an important part of our listenership whom we respect and value. The suspension is an indication of the importance we place on delivering a product that respects our Haitian audience."

Cameron expressed regret at the entire situation, because of Cipha Sounds' involvement in helping to raise money for charity, after a deadly 7.0 earthquake ravaged the country in January.

"It's a very regrettable and unfortunate circumstance for all involved and particularly because we know this is not the nature of this young man who has been an advocate of the Haitian community and a big part of our fundraising efforts for Haiti," Cameron continued. "He is committed to working with the Haitian community to make a difference and turn this negative incident into an opportunity for increased learning and awareness."

Hot 97 will also start working with local community leaders to help raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in the Haitian community.

---The twitter chatter on this reveals that some are surprised Hot 97 took any action at all because of their insensitivity to this sort of thing in the past and some are surprised because it's normal for the morning show to make comments about all races... Here's Cipha Sounds comments about Puerto Ricans from New York, which could be considered offensive also, but probably not because he is a Nuyorican.